Pneumatic heel



Aug. 18, 1931. c McBRIDE v 1,819,565

PNEUMATIC HEEL F i i d July 8. 1950 1 nvenldr A ltomey Patented Aug. 18, 1931 CARL M. IJIOBRIDE, OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA PNEUMATIC HEEL Application filed July 8, 1930. Serial Ref 166,508.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic heels for shoes, and particularly to that type of pneumatic heel which may be attached to the heel part of the shoe in the same manner as ordinary rubber heels are attached.

It is the object of this invention to provide a practical pneumatic heel of superior and novel features of construction which result in a heel of this type of exceptional durability, resilience, and low cost of manufacture, making it possible to offer this superior heel to the public at a price not heretofore considered nominal.

This and other objects, the nature of the invention, its composition, and arrangement and combination of its parts, will be clear from a reading of the explanations and descriptions below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bottom view of the heel.

Figure 2 is a top view.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 4 is a View of the air filled cushion. It is to be understood that I do not limit the application of my invention to this particular embodiment thereof, but that any changes in size materials, and any other variation may be made within the scope of the invention.

The drawings in detail show the heel designated generally at 5, of the usual exterior conformations and having centrally thereof and opening at its top 6 a circular recess 7 having curved set back walls 8 to retain an air filled cushion 9 and permit said cushion 9 to protrude slightly above the top of the heel, before the heel is attached in place on a shoe, when it assumes a flat conforming surface 10 by compressing the cushion and expanding it to forcefully fill the entire recess 7 and provide a pneumatic cushion. Nail holes of countersunk construction are 41'; arranged about the edges of the heel to provide for the usual attaching means as shown at 11 and 11a, to enable the heel to be fastened to a shoe in the usual and well known manner. The bottom portion 12 of the heel is of considerable thickness and has suflicient stability to retain its shape under ordinary conditions obtaining in the standing position of the wearer. The walls 13 of the heel are of sturdy and thick construction to prevent sidesway movement and to retain the alinement and rigidity of the heel under ordinary standing conditions of the wearer, thus affording at such times the function only of an ordinary rubber heel. However, under walking, running or other jolting, changing conditions which result in considerable pressure being brought to bear suddenly on the heels the side walls and bottom of the heel have suflicient give to bring into play the function of the pneumatic cushion 9 whose operation it is to soften and dissipate the unpleasant and injurious jarring which would otherwise and ordinarily be communicated to the person of the wearer of the usual type of leather or the like heels and even in the case of ordinary rubber heels.

It will now be understood that I have provided a heel admirably and in a' superior manner suited to perform the functions of a heel of this type and well adapted for the purposes for which it was designed, and that I have accomplished this by a construction and arrangement of parts which is simple, inexpensive and easy of manufacture.

I claim 1. A pneumatic heel of the type described comprising a resilient body in the shape of a heel and having a recess opening through its upper surface and an inflated bladder in said recess and protruding beyond the said upper surface, said recess defining a circular opening in said upper surface and vertical walls whose inward surfaces are concaved and a bottom, said opening occupying the greater portion of the area of the upper surface whereby to limit the thickness of the walls, said walls being of a thickness capable of supporting the standing weight of a person without distortion.

2. In a pneumatic heel consisting of a resilient body in the form of a heel provided with a recess opening at the upper surface thereof for permitting the upward bulging of an inflated bladder confined in the recess,

interiorly concaved Walls defined by said recess of a thickness adequate to support Without distortion, the standing Weight of a person only and distortable under the stresses of locomotion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CARL M. MCBRIDE. 

